Music for Social Change

Main Menu

The Jazz Jousters – Autumn (Oscar Peterson tribute)

The Jazz Jousters release, Autumn, their latest jazz music tribute honoring late Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson. Autumn features new Hip Hop duo Combine Vibes (B 3 N B i & Top Nax), Scaley Walez, and Jazz Kat, along with the usual suspects. This album marks the end of an awesome year for the Jousters.

Born on August 15, 1925 in Montreal, Canada, Oscar Peterson became to be known as the pianist who would play 100 notes while others played 10 notes. Various sources confirm that Oscar Peterson released over 200 recordings and won eight Grammy’s during a career that lasted 62 years. But how did O.P. manage to do this? Well!, Peterson began playing classical piano at the age of 6 and by 14 he was starring on a weekly radio show in Montreal. In 1950, at the 25 he released his first recording titled Oscar Peterson at Carnegie Hall via Mercury Records.

In 1960 he founded a Jazz school in Toronto called Advanced School of Contemporary Music that brought in many students from around the world, however, due to the demand of his touring schedule, the school was forced to close. This was not the only historical impression O.P. made.

His “Hymn To Freedom” became one of the crusade songs of the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the United States. It is still performed frequently by choirs worldwide.

He composed the soundtrack for the film “Fields of Endless Day,” about U.S. slaves using the Underground Railroad to escape to Canada.Source

It is said that Oscar Peterson composed over 400 pieces, many of which were performed but remain largely unpublished. He worked with many of the legendary jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie to name a few.

Oscar Peterson was not only musician, civil rights advocate, philanthropist; he was also an avid hobbyist using fishing, photography, and astronomy as his getaways. Peterson passed away on December 23, 2007 at the age of 82.

The Jazz Jousters are brought to you by Millennium Jazz Music, an international Hip Hop – Jazz and Jazz orientated music community that manage the “Lab Off” sessions including podcast showcasing various musical talent from all across the globe.